The Totally Awesome Hulk Vol. 3: Big Apple Showdown

by Marvel Comics

[Quirky Cat]

Amadeus Cho is back for this third installation of The Totally Awesome Hulk. If you’re looking to get into a series that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this may be a good pick for you. I love Amadeus as a character, so I’ll admit I was a little bit disappointed with the plots given to him in this particular volume.



There are two main plots for this volume, one starts off silly but tries to end on a more serious note, and the other has a ton of cameos. To be honest though, neither impressed me terribly much (though I actually enjoyed the beginning of the second plot).
The first plot…well…its sports and superheroes? Basically the author blended basketball heroes and superheroes, and together they go off against a mech monster that’s assimilating all tech based items (thank goodness it wasn’t trying to assimilate organics, yeah?). It’s a lighthearted story on the whole, minus the reminder that Cho is having some serious issues with his sister. And before you ask, no I have no idea if the players mentioned are real or not.
The second plot, as promised, has a ton of cameos (some of whom appear on the volume cover, to give you an idea). Some of the heroes that make an appearance I recognize, others not so much. But it was still a fun plot – them all getting together trying to do something good; well a different sort of good then they’re normally doing, that is. They’re trying to raise funds/awareness/donors for children. It’s pretty wonderful that the creative team helped bring awareness to this issue, and that our wonderful heroes cared so much.
Naturally that many heroes in one place inevitably means a fight is going to break out, and that’s where the plot takes a turn from the lighthearted nature to the more foreboding side. I won’t spoil what happens for, but let’s just say some malevolent (and hungry) aliens invade New York. Need I say more?
The one thing both plots had in common was showing a particular weakness of Cho’s. He doesn’t listen to anybody else. His sister, his teammates (even if they are impromptu), the civilians raising concerns. They’re all pretty much written off right away, which raises problems down the line (like his sister completely cutting herself off from him).
So while this volume didn’t contain the strongest of plots, it did take the time to drive home that Cho’s arrogance is still getting the better of him. I’m not sure where that’s going to lead to next, but there’s no way they’re going to leave it here. I for one can’t wait to see what happens to get Cho to open his eyes.


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